Liverpool and Leverkusen seek to embrace their favorite status as they enter the Europa League
Liverpool and Bayer Leverkusen, led by Xabi Alonso, are the clear favourites to win the Europa League this season. Both clubs will be confident winners as they travel east this week for their last-16 matches.As one of the four remaining British teams in the league, Jurgen Klopp's club hopes to make it all the way to the season finale on May 22 in Dublin.
Though Rangers, West Ham United, and Brighton & Hove Albion all have challenging last-16 matches, it would be shocking if Liverpool lost to Sparta Prague and failed to advance to the quarterfinals.
Top-ranked in the Czech league, Sparta has had a great season in Europe, qualifying from their group ahead of Real Betis and defeating Galatasaray in the play-offs' final phase.
However, Liverpool is playing excellent football and has a chance to win an incredible quadruple in Klopp's last season as manager of Anfield.The Reds are leading the Premier League and have advanced to the FA Cup final eight after winning the League Cup.
Their focus on Sunday's crucial match against Manchester City, who are one point behind Klopp's team at the top of the Premier League, could be their biggest risk as they go to the Stadion Letna in Prague.
They have now dropped their last two group stage away games, against Union Saint-Gilloise in Belgium and Toulouse, and Klopp might once more decide to give some of his talented young players a chance in the Europa League.
Mohamed Salah, however, has just made one appearance since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations hurt, so this match may perhaps come too soon for the Egyptian.
Liverpool wants to guarantee a spot in the quarterfinal draw on March 15, which will also identify their probable opponents in the semifinals.
There is a chance that they will still encounter Leverkusen, who are having a wonderful season under former Liverpool midfielder Alonso.
With ten games remaining, the 1988 UEFA Cup winners lead the Bundesliga by ten points, having gone undefeated throughout the season.
Their first German title is their first aim, but they are still in the German Cup and will be well favoured to defeat Azerbaijan's Qarabag in order to advance to the European quarterfinals.
The Werkself defeated Qarabag both at home and away in the group stage, winning 6-1 on aggregate. This Thursday, they will travel to Baku for the second time this season for the opening leg.
Italy's Brighton
Brighton is in Italy to play a Roma team that is experiencing a comeback under Daniele De Rossi. Brighton is through to the knockout stages of their first-ever European campaign.
Roberto De Zerbi, the manager of Brighton, and De Rossi will square off in the first leg on Thursday at the Stadio Olimpico.
Bayer Leverkusen, led by Xabi Alonso, will play Qarabag in Azerbaijan after taking a break from their Bundesliga title defence.
Bayer Leverkusen, led by Xabi Alonso, will play Qarabag in Azerbaijan after taking a break from their Bundesliga title defence. © AFP/File/INA FASSBENDER
"I hold him in high regard. De Zerbi recently stated of his counterpart, "I knew he could be a great coach because as a player he showed an incredible personality."
He shares my thoughts about football. We are buddies and he is a passionate person, but I want to prevail."
West Ham, the winners of the Europa Conference League the previous season, travel to Germany to play Freiburg, who just finished holding Bayern Munich to a draw in the Bundesliga.
This season, the clubs will meet for the third time in the competition; the Hammers have won both meetings in the group stage.
Unexpectedly, Rangers, who were eliminated as Champions League finalists two years prior, won their group. However, their prize is a difficult matchup against Benfica, with the first leg taking place in Lisbon.
"The truth is that we will be the underdogs in this game as it will be our first. After the draw, Rangers manager Philippe Clement, whose team sits atop the Scottish Premiership, said, "But that doesn't mean that we cannot qualify."
On Wednesday, Benfica's neighbour Sporting will host Atalanta, while AC Milan will play Slavia Prague and Marseille will play Villarreal.
Marcelino Garcia Toral, the coach of the Spanish team, left his position as manager of Marseille earlier this season after barely three months in charge.
Though Rangers, West Ham United, and Brighton & Hove Albion all have challenging last-16 matches, it would be shocking if Liverpool lost to Sparta Prague and failed to advance to the quarterfinals.
Top-ranked in the Czech league, Sparta has had a great season in Europe, qualifying from their group ahead of Real Betis and defeating Galatasaray in the play-offs' final phase.
However, Liverpool is playing excellent football and has a chance to win an incredible quadruple in Klopp's last season as manager of Anfield.The Reds are leading the Premier League and have advanced to the FA Cup final eight after winning the League Cup.
Their focus on Sunday's crucial match against Manchester City, who are one point behind Klopp's team at the top of the Premier League, could be their biggest risk as they go to the Stadion Letna in Prague.
They have now dropped their last two group stage away games, against Union Saint-Gilloise in Belgium and Toulouse, and Klopp might once more decide to give some of his talented young players a chance in the Europa League.
Mohamed Salah, however, has just made one appearance since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations hurt, so this match may perhaps come too soon for the Egyptian.
Liverpool wants to guarantee a spot in the quarterfinal draw on March 15, which will also identify their probable opponents in the semifinals.
There is a chance that they will still encounter Leverkusen, who are having a wonderful season under former Liverpool midfielder Alonso.
With ten games remaining, the 1988 UEFA Cup winners lead the Bundesliga by ten points, having gone undefeated throughout the season.
Their first German title is their first aim, but they are still in the German Cup and will be well favoured to defeat Azerbaijan's Qarabag in order to advance to the European quarterfinals.
The Werkself defeated Qarabag both at home and away in the group stage, winning 6-1 on aggregate. This Thursday, they will travel to Baku for the second time this season for the opening leg.
Italy's Brighton
Brighton is in Italy to play a Roma team that is experiencing a comeback under Daniele De Rossi. Brighton is through to the knockout stages of their first-ever European campaign.
Roberto De Zerbi, the manager of Brighton, and De Rossi will square off in the first leg on Thursday at the Stadio Olimpico.
Bayer Leverkusen, led by Xabi Alonso, will play Qarabag in Azerbaijan after taking a break from their Bundesliga title defence.
Bayer Leverkusen, led by Xabi Alonso, will play Qarabag in Azerbaijan after taking a break from their Bundesliga title defence. © AFP/File/INA FASSBENDER
"I hold him in high regard. De Zerbi recently stated of his counterpart, "I knew he could be a great coach because as a player he showed an incredible personality."
He shares my thoughts about football. We are buddies and he is a passionate person, but I want to prevail."
West Ham, the winners of the Europa Conference League the previous season, travel to Germany to play Freiburg, who just finished holding Bayern Munich to a draw in the Bundesliga.
This season, the clubs will meet for the third time in the competition; the Hammers have won both meetings in the group stage.
Unexpectedly, Rangers, who were eliminated as Champions League finalists two years prior, won their group. However, their prize is a difficult matchup against Benfica, with the first leg taking place in Lisbon.
"The truth is that we will be the underdogs in this game as it will be our first. After the draw, Rangers manager Philippe Clement, whose team sits atop the Scottish Premiership, said, "But that doesn't mean that we cannot qualify."
On Wednesday, Benfica's neighbour Sporting will host Atalanta, while AC Milan will play Slavia Prague and Marseille will play Villarreal.
Marcelino Garcia Toral, the coach of the Spanish team, left his position as manager of Marseille earlier this season after barely three months in charge.